That old junk in your attic might be a hidden treasure.
Our homes are often filled with the accumulated clutter of generations past, from the dusty boxes in the attic to the old furniture in the basement. Most of it is just that: junk. Hidden among the forgotten objects, however, there could be a rare and valuable item that is hiding in plain sight, a treasure that is worth a surprising amount of money to the right collector.
Before you start your next big clean-out, it’s worth taking a second look at these common old items. You might be sitting on a small fortune.
1. First-edition books from the 20th century could be valuable.
While an old book is not automatically valuable, a true first edition of a classic, 20th-century novel can be worth a significant amount of money. Many people have these books sitting on their shelves without realizing their value. A first-edition, first-printing of a book like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” or Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” especially if it has its original dust jacket, can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The key is to look for the “first edition” statement on the copyright page and to check for other identifying marks.
2. Vintage cartoon lunchboxes from the 60s and 70s are hot collectibles.
The metal lunchbox you carried to school as a kid could now be a valuable collectible. Lunchboxes from the 1960s and 70s, particularly those that feature popular cartoon characters or television shows from the era, are highly sought after by collectors. A rare lunchbox with its original matching thermos, in good condition, can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Boxes that feature characters like The Beatles, The Jetsons, or Superman are particularly valuable. It’s a perfect example of a mundane, everyday object from your childhood that has become a prized pop culture artifact.
3. Old vinyl records can be worth a fortune.
The vinyl revival has made old records a hot commodity, but certain original pressings can be incredibly valuable. An original, first-pressing of a famous album by a legendary band like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or Bob Dylan can be worth thousands of dollars, especially if it is in near-mint condition. Certain rare versions, like the “butcher cover” of The Beatles’ “Yesterday and Today,” are the holy grails of the hobby.
It’s worth taking a closer look at that old stack of records in your basement; you might have a rare gem hiding among them.
4. Mid-century modern furniture is in high demand.
The clean lines and organic shapes of mid-century modern furniture, from the 1950s and 60s, have become incredibly popular and valuable in recent years. An authentic piece by a famous designer like Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, or George Nakashima can be worth a huge amount of money. Many people have these pieces sitting in their homes, inherited from their parents or grandparents, without realizing their value.
Even unmarked or lesser-known pieces from the era can be highly sought after. That old, vaguely Scandinavian-looking chair in your basement might be a valuable piece of design history.
5. Vintage costume jewelry is not always junk.
Most old costume jewelry is not particularly valuable, but certain signed pieces from famous designers can be worth a surprising amount. You should always look for a small, stamped signature on the back of any old brooches, necklaces, or bracelets. A piece that is signed by a well-known designer like Chanel, Schiaparelli, or Miriam Haskell can be incredibly valuable to collectors.
Even less famous but well-regarded designers can command high prices. It’s always worth taking a closer look at the jumble of old jewelry in your grandmother’s jewelry box.
6. Old comic books can be hidden treasures.
Everyone knows that an old, Golden Age comic book, like an Action Comics No. 1, is worth a fortune. What many people don’t realize is that even comics from the more recent “Silver” and “Bronze” ages (the 1960s, 70s, and 80s) can be very valuable. The first appearance of a major character, like Wolverine in an issue of The Incredible Hulk, can be worth thousands of dollars.
The key is the condition of the comic. A high-grade, well-preserved comic from this era can be a fantastic and valuable find, so it’s always worth taking a look through that old box of comics in your closet.
7. Early video games and consoles in their original boxes.
The world of vintage video game collecting has exploded in recent years. An early video game console, like an original Nintendo Entertainment System or an Atari 2600, especially if it is still in its original box and in good condition, can be worth a lot of money. The real value, however, is often in the games themselves.
Certain rare or popular games, especially if they are “factory sealed” in their original plastic, can be worth tens of thousands of dollars to collectors. That old box of Nintendo games in your attic might be a hidden treasure.
8. Vintage Pyrex and CorningWare can be very valuable.
This is a surprising one for many people. Certain rare patterns of the vintage, glass Pyrex and CorningWare dishes that were a staple of American kitchens in the mid-20th century are now incredibly sought after by a passionate community of collectors. A single casserole dish with a rare pattern, like “Lucky in Love” or “Charleroi,” can be worth thousands of dollars.
It is a perfect example of a common, everyday household item that has become a valuable and trendy collectible. It’s worth checking the pattern on your grandmother’s old Pyrex.
9. Hand-carved duck decoys are a form of folk art.
An old, wooden duck decoy that is sitting on a shelf in a basement might look like a simple piece of junk, but it could be a valuable piece of American folk art. Antique, hand-carved duck decoys, particularly those that were made by a well-known carver from the late 19th or early 20th century, can be worth a huge amount of money at auction.
The most valuable decoys are those that have a unique, artistic quality and are in a good, original condition. It is a highly specialized but very lucrative field of collecting.
10. Vintage concert posters are now considered fine art.
A vintage concert poster from the 1960s, particularly the psychedelic posters from the San Francisco music scene of that era, are now considered to be valuable works of art. An original poster for a show by a legendary band like The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, or Led Zeppelin, especially if it was designed by a famous poster artist of the era, can be worth thousands.
Many of these posters were just tacked to a teenager’s bedroom wall and then forgotten. If you have one that has survived in good condition, it could be a very valuable and cool piece of music history.
11. Antique cast-iron skillets are highly sought after.
An old, rusty cast-iron skillet that is sitting in the back of a cabinet might be a hidden gem. While a modern Lodge skillet is not particularly valuable, an antique skillet from a defunct and highly regarded manufacturer, like Griswold or Wagner Ware, is very collectible. These old skillets are prized for their incredibly smooth cooking surface and their high-quality craftsmanship.
A rare or large-sized piece in good condition, once it has been cleaned and restored, can be worth several hundred dollars to a collector or a chef.
12. Old postcards can be worth more than a stamp.
The hobby of collecting old postcards, known as “deltiology,” is a surprisingly active one. While most old postcards are not worth very much, certain rare or historically significant cards can be quite valuable. The most valuable cards are often the “real photo” postcards from the early 20th century that show a unique or interesting scene from a small town.
Cards that have a message that is historically interesting, or that are from a famous person, can also be valuable. It is worth taking a look through that old shoebox of postcards from your grandparents.